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Rafael Nadal pulled out of the U.S. Open yesterday because of an injured right wrist, making him
only the fourth reigning men’s champion in the past 45 years to sit out the tournament.

Nadal and the tournament announced his decision simultaneously, one week before the year’s final
Grand Slam event begins.

The 28-year-old Spaniard was injured on July 29 while practicing on his home island of Mallorca.
The next day, Nadal said he was told by doctors to wear a cast on his wrist for two to three weeks
and that he would have to sit out U.S. Open tuneup tournaments in Toronto and Cincinnati.

Nadal also said at the time that he expected to be able play in the U.S. Open. But he issued a
statement on his Facebook page yesterday, saying he is “very sorry to announce” that he would not
compete in New York.

“I am sure you understand that it is a very tough moment for me since it is a tournament I love
and where I have great memories from fans, the night matches, so many things,” Nadal’s posting
read. “Not much more I can do right now, other than accept the situation and … work hard in order
to be able to compete at the highest level once I am back.”

The second-ranked Nadal plays left-handed, but he uses a two-handed backhand.

He won his second U.S. Open in 2013, part of a run of reaching the final in each of his past
three appearances. He beat Novak Djokovic to win in 2010 and last year, and lost to Djokovic in
2011. Nadal did not play in the tournament in 2012.

The other U.S. Open men’s singles champions who did not return the following year were Ken
Rosewall in 1971, Pete Sampras in 2003 and Juan Martin del Potro in 2010.